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Ivomec warning

IF YOU GIVE YOUR DOGS THE LIQUID IVOMEC, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
I took my female into Brittmoore Animal Clinic in Houston (very well respected) for a progesterone test. They used the same blood sample to run a heartworm check on her. I have been using Ivomec for over 30 years faithfully, each and every month, and have never had a dog come back with positive results. Well, my female has a mild case of heartworms. I was told by the vet at Brittmoore that they are seeing a lot of test/trial dogs (I am assuming this is due to the fact that so many of us with multiple dogs use it) that are coming back positive for heartworms. Cases are showing up from Mississippi to the Texas coast region. If you fall into this category, PLEASE have your dogs checked as soon as possible and change to another form of prevention. Positive cases are not showing up for dogs using Heartguard or Sentinel, just the liquid form of Ivomec. I now have to have my other 6 dogs tested.
Yes, it will cost more money each month to treat them with a prescription preventatives, but nothing compared to the expense of having to put your dog through the treatment (or worse)

Thanks for the info. Since Ivomec in numerous tests & years of application has proven effective as a heart worm preventative, I wonder if the issue is actually proper dosage?

Rather than a word of mouth pronouncement by a clinic, it would be a much more professional practice to publish the statistical data behind that opinion by those who claim that Ivomec liquid is not effective.

Agree with what David D. said, above. Been hearing for several years that some dogs in Gulf Coast states mainly, have been getting heartworms even though regularly treated with ivermectin, the drug in ivomec and many other made-for-dogs heartworm preventatives. Sounds more like a strain of the parasite is developing a resistance to ivermectin more than treating w/Ivomec. I've used Ivomec for years, my dogs get it year round, but mosquitos are not bad in the area where I live and I do get my dogs tested annually.

I told the vet at Brittmoore the dosage that I had been giving and his reply was that it was more than adequate. (Julie) Yes, there is a resistance to Ivomec in this area.
(Rboudet) Given the fact that it takes approximately 6 months from the time of the infected mosquito bite to become a mature heartworm, the timing of when I gave the last dosage is of no consequence. There is already detection in the bloodstream which means there has to be an adult present. (though I do give on the first of each month and she was tested on the 25th)
(David) I am not a professional in this field so am not capable of publishing the exact data and was not offered such from the vet. I only wanted to pass along the word to others. I wish someone had passed it along to me.

There has been ivermectin resistant heartworm in some areas for a while now. Most of the heartworm "breakers" have been on dogs treated with Heartguard & the other heartworm meds using Ivermectin. Changing your dogs from Ivomec to Heartguard is NOT going to keep your dog safer since it's the same drug in a much smaller quantity. Either look for a heartworm Med that uses a non ivermectin drug or possibly look at how You're storing your Ivomec. Ivomec is light & heat sensitive so should be stored in a dark container in the fridge. Check the experation date on the box. And regardless of what method you use, heartworm checks yearly are important.
-Danielle

HEARTGARDŽ Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel)
contains Ivermectin so what would be the difference. I agree with Dave need to have stats on what you are saying. I believe I have heard my vet say it is an issue of when the medication is given. Sometimes people skip doses and your dog could get infected then. It is also a good idea to make sure if you use Ivermection it is stored correctly and you give the correct dosage as calculated by your vet. Always check with your vet!JMHO

I would be happy to supply a synopsis of the most recent data presented at the American Heartworm Society meeting in 2013 if anyone is interested, there is inaccurate information circulating in the dog world. It will be later today or tomorrow for those interested.

Interested as well. email address is bhretrievers@gmail.com if that is the best way to send it. My understanding(may be wrong) is that the Ivomec will be out of their system after a couple weeks but when you give it the next month it will kill any young HW's that may be present therefore keeping them HW free. Before I go to Ark or La to hunt I always dose right before I go no matter when I gave it before.